UNESCO Ancient Civilizations of Africa (Editor G. Mokhtar)

1
Egypt under
Roman domination
S. DONADONI
Rome: from alliance to domination over Egypt
Egypt passed from the rule of the Ptolemies to that of Rome almost
imperceptibly. Relations between Alexandria and Rome had for a long
time, since Ptolemy Philadelphus, been very friendly. He was the first of
the line to sign a treaty of friendship with Rome and send an embassy
there, in —273. Half a century later Ptolemy Philopator had remained
friendly to Rome during its war with Hannibal (—218 to —201) and Rome
had reciprocated by saving Egypt's independence when Antiochus III
invaded it in —168. Nevertheless, after establishing that position the
republic had in practice become able and accustomed to control Egyptian
affairs in a way that became all too obvious in the Ptolemies' last
years. The aim of Cleopatra VII's intrigues with Roman generals between
—51 and —30 had probably been to make them espouse her kingdom's
interests, but her unconditional support of her friend Mark Antony lost
her the throne for good as soon as Octavian conquered him in —31.
The attitude towards Egypt of its new master showed clearly the
importance which Rome attached to this new province of its empire. It
stationed three legions there, nearly 15 000 men. Their duty was to restore
control over the country, in which anarchy had raged during the
Ptolemies' finalreigns and led to the destruction of Thebes in —88. The
first Roman prefect, Cornelius Gallus, led troops into Upper Egypt beyond
the First Cataract. After him the prefect Petronius reconquered the
province of Lower Nubia called the Dodecaschene (because it measured
twelve schenes), about 120 kilometres from Syene (Aswan) to Hiera
Sycaminos (Muharraqa). It had belonged to the Ptolemies, but the rulers
of Meroe (now in the Sudan) had long since added it to their kingdom.
The excessive trust that the prefect Gallus, the Roman emperor's confidant,
placed in his successes finallycost him his life, an event which proved the
very special importance that Octavian, by then called Augustus, attached
to its conquest. He very jealously retained the province of Egypt under
his direct administration, and gave the senate no jurisdiction of any
kind over it. Later, in fact, senators were expressly forbidden even to set
foot in it, a rule that was very severely enforced. The Roman emperor